Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods

Program

The Drexel Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods program prepares students to pursue career opportunities in nutrition and dietetics. Graduates of this program are able to apply the principles of nutrition and food science to the nutritional care of individuals and groups—such as in school food service or community nutrition—or to excel in careers in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Dietetics is the practical application of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of disease. Dietetics is an exciting and challenging profession because there are many diseases that are related to nutrition, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity.

The nutrition program at Drexel University is referred to as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) because we provide classroom training for students who want to become Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD/RDN).

What you'll learn

The Nutrition and Foods program provides students with an academic background in clinical, community, and administrative dietetics to follow the didactic requirements of the American Dietetic Association to become Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists (RD/RDN). Students complete specific courses in medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, foodservice management, and food science.

Experiential learning is an important component of a dietitian's education. Therefore, students are encouraged to gain paid or volunteer experience in a healthcare facility, community nutrition program, or food service institution.

Graduates of this program may go on to graduate study to further their education within this growing field, or in a related healthcare field. The study of the biochemical nature of nutrients and foods, their interaction with the environment, and their eventual metabolic fate is a strong career path for more research-minded students and provides a unique base for graduate study.

What makes the Nutrition and Foods program unique?

Extensive network of professional experiential learning opportunities, including co-op and research involvement.

You are part of theDrexel College of Nursing and Health Professions with access to various practice environments and educational facilities.

Curriculum

Accreditation

ACEND: Approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. www.eatright.org/ACEND/

Program Level Outcomes

At Drexel University we believe that a well-formulated set of Program Level Outcomes [PLO] that support and are consistent with the institutional mission and goals are the building blocks of an effective assessment program.

Click here
to view the College of Nursing and Health Professions department of Nutrition Sciences Program Level Outcomes.

Drexel's BS in Nutrition and Foods graduates have exceptionally high placement in dietetic internships. Over the past three years (2012-2014), 89% (25/28) of graduates of the program have received a match with a dietetic internship (national average 51%).

MS/DPD: A Step Toward Becoming a Registered Dietitian

If you have a desire to promote optimal wellness and quality of life for people of all ages through better nutrition, and if you have an interest in and capacity for science, the Didactic Program in Dietetics option may be of interest to you. This degree is one of the steps to becoming an Registered Dietitian. The program requires 45 graduate credits and may be completed in two years with full-time study.

What Is a DPD?

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) provides the coursework required to become an RD. Students who want to become an RD must successfully complete coursework approved by the Accreditation Council on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

For students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods, all DPD coursework will be completed as part of the degree plan of study. For students pursuing an MS degree, the prerequisite courses (listed on the Admissions page) fulfill a part of the required DPD coursework.
Upon completion of the DPD program, students receive a verification statement, which shows successful completion of the DPD and allows entry into a dietetic internship. Bachelor of Science students are required to earn a grade of C or better in all DPD courses to receive a DPD verification statement. MS students are required to earn a grade of B or better in all DPD courses to receive a DPD verification statement.

What Is a Dietetic Internship?

In the last year of the DPD program, students apply for a dietetic internship (also called supervised practice). While the DPD provides mostly classroom training, the dietetic internship provides hands-on training. Dietetic internships provide a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised practice (unpaid) and are usually completed in eight to 12 months . There are more than 250 accredited dietetic internships available throughout the United States. Entry to a dietetic internship is competitive and is achieved through a national online matching process; students may apply to as many internships as they would like, but they are matched with only one. Students need at least a 3.2 GPA and relevant work experience in healthcare to be a viable candidate. After completion of the internship, you are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians.

What Does It Mean to Be a Registered Dietitian?

Registered Dietitians are food and nutrition experts employed in a wide variety of settings who find exciting jobs working as: